Then there were the speeches of support, and a pledge from Rep. Sensenbrenner to get the Voting Rights Act reauthorization through the House before the Memorial Day recess in three weeks.  Members, supporters and news media talked before, during and after the conference about how good the bill was.  And then they left.

The hard work of getting this bill through Congress remains.  And that's where you, our members and supporters, can play an incredibly significant role.

Many of you are interested in Common Cause because the work we do, whether it's on ethics, media reform or election issues, is all about making our democracy work better, ensuring its health and stability in the process.  Extending the expiring parts of the Voting Rights Act is a crucial part of making our democracy work better.  It will ensure that people can vote without having to face any of the obstacles that were previously used to keep millions of people from voting.  It provides for minority-language ballots in areas where select groups of citizens, who know how to speak and read English, may need extra assistance in the language when they vote.

Many people thought the protections offered by the Voting Rights Act would not be needed in the 21st Century, but the congressional testimony submitted by our coalition partners was sobering.  Discrimination in election practices still remains, which means there's still a need for the Voting Rights Act.  

That's why we need your help in making sure this bill gets through Congress.  While the congressional support for this bill is broad, it's not deep.  Frankly, some people will see this bill as a civil rights bill, one that only African-American, Latino, Native American and Asian voters will be interested in.  That couldn't be more wrong.  This bill is an AMERICAN investment in promoting the stability of AMERICA's electoral system, just like the Help America Vote Act or campaign finance reform or the voter-verified paper trail bill sponsored by Rep. Rush Holt that was the focus of our Lobby Day last year and last month.

Everyone in Congress needs to be interested in this bill.  This is not just a bill that affects people of color, or folks in the Deep South or in the West, or areas that are covered under the language provisions of Section 203 or the federal review provisions of Section 5.  This bill is to make sure that elections work right for everyone, and that every voter can cast a valid vote.

First, what do you know about the Voting Rights Act?  To learn more, check our web page at www.commoncause.org/VRA or the page of our coalition, www.renewthevra.org.  There, you'll find useful information about the Voting Rights Act that you can pass on to others.  

Second, tell folks about the Voting Rights Act and what's going on in Congress.  Spread the word to your friends and neighbors, at your house of worship, before community groups, in barbershops -- anywhere that's a good place to get the message out to people.

Finally, get your senators and representatives to support HR 9.  Call them and tell them you want Congress to renew and strengthen the act this year.

If we act together on the Voting Rights Act, we will build this coalition into a force that will accomplish greater election victories in the days to come.  

So let the work begin...